Combined cleaning mop and wringer



Jan. 17, 1956 H. GANTZ 2,730,741

COMBINED CLEANING MOP AND'WRINGER Filed Dec. 1, 1950 INVEN TOR. HARRY GANTZ ATTORNEY United States Patent COMBINED CLEANING MOP AND WRINGER Harry Gantz, Port Chester, N. Y.

Application December 1, 1950, Serial No. 198,613 Claims. (Cl. 15-416) The present invention relates to a cleaning mop and more particularly to the means for squeezing dry the mop. A cleaning mop after it has been used to clean a surface, suchas a floor, customarily is manually squeezed to force the dirty fluid therefrom before using it again and soak up cleaning fluid or water.

Mops have been made which have mechanical means to squeeze out the water from the mop but such mechanical means have been relatively inconvenient to use in that with these mops it was required to raise them into an elevated position to operate the said mechanical means and squeeze out the water or fluid from the mop.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a mop, the swab of which is preferably made from a synthetic cellulose sponge and which is provided with a mechanical swab squeezing means that may be operated from the mop stick or'handle without the necessity of raising the mop into a particular elevated position.

The present invention further contemplates the provision of such a mop which is provided with a frame in which the swab is positioned and on which frame the swab squeezing means, operated from the stick or handle, is pivotally mounted.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a means which is slidably mounted on the mop stick or handle and connected to the mechanical squeezing rneans sothat upon sliding the means downward on the handle,

the mop is squeezed by the mechanical means to force out the fluid or water.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a relatively uncomplicated mop and swab squeezing means which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These, other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the description which follows and the drawing appended thereto, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combined mop and brush according to my invention, the mechanical squeezing means in open position and the stick or handle broken away to condense the drawing;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, the mechanical squeezing means in closed or squeezing position;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the mop illustrated in Fig. 1 taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modification of my combined mop and brush, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, the stick or handle of a mop embodying my invention is secured to the upper surface 12 of the frame in which the swab 14 is mounted, as by means of the winged lock nut 16 threaded on the screw 18. The stick or handle 10 is preferably flattened out at its lower end 19 and extends at an angle toward the rear of the mop, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2.

The swab 14 is secured to the underside of the block 20 which is preferably made from wood, in any satisfactory manner, as by cementing thereto.

The swab 14 is preferably formed from a rectangular block of sponge or porous rubber and extends somewhat below the frame of the mop at the bottom thereof.

The front face 22 of the frame is open set at 24 to permit the bristles 26 of the brush 28, which is secured to'the block 20 in any satisfactory manner, such as by screws or by cement, to extend outwardly from the frame.

The swab i4 mechanical squeezing means is pivotally secured to the sides of the block 20 and includes the slidable collar 39 which is mounted on the stick or handle 10.

The squeeze plate 32 of the squeezing means is con nected to the collar 30 by means of the arm or lever 34,

which at its upper end is fixed to the ear 36, extending to the rear of the collar 30 and integral therewith, as by the headed member 38.

At its lower end, the arm 34 is bent to form the loop or eye 40 within which is rotatively held. the yoke 42 of the member 4 5 which extends along the rear of the squeeze plate 32 to force it in the manner which will be described against the swab 14.

Extending to the rear of the squeeze plate 32 and integral therewith, there is provided at each side thereof the lugs or lobes 46. Through openings therein the member 44 passes and around which lugs or lobes it is bent to form the fingers 48. These fingers extend through corresponding openings in the sides 50 of the frame and are pivotally anchored in the block 20.

' In operation, the collar 30 is reciprocated between two limiting positions, the raised position in which the squeeze plate is withdrawn from operation, similar to the position as seen in Fig. 4, and the lowered position (not illustrated) whereby the squeeze plate is forced against the swab 14 to wiring it of water. In order to better illustrate the mechanism involved, the squeeze plate is shown in inter,- mediate position in Figs. 1 and 2, but it is to be understood that the mop would not ordinarily be used with the squeeze plate in this position. Upon pushing the collarfatl all the Way down the member 44 together with the side fingers .433 turn to move the squeeze plate under and up against the swab 14 (see Figs. 1 and 2). i

This operation pushes the yoke 42 toward the rear of the mop causing the fingers to pivot about the sides 50 of the frame.

Since the member 44 passes loosely through the openings in the lugs or lobes 46, an upward movement of the collar carries the squeeze plate 32 upwardly and away from the swab 14. The squeeze. plate 3?. is pivotally mounted on member 44 so that said squeeze plate may rotate relative to said member to squeeze the swab 14.

The upper edge 52 of the plate 32 is turned toward the rear so that it will in this open or raised position clear the frame (see Figs. 1 and 3).

Movement of the collar 30 downward into the position of Fig. 2 forces the squeeze plate 32 downward against the swab 14 to press against it and squeeze any liquid or water therefrom.

The lower edge 54 of the squeeze plate 32 is turned toward the front so that when the plate 32 is forced against the swab 5.4, this lower edge is positioned slightly underneath the swab out in the raised or open position is pulled from underneath to clear it as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the modification illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the bristles 5'4 are secured directly in the block 56 as by means of wire staples (not shown) thereby eliminating the back of the brush illustrated in Figs. 1. to 3.

In this modification, the upper end of the member 58 is secured to the slidable collar 3b, which collar is movable on the handle 60.

The lower end of the member 58 is provided with the eye 62 in which the pin 64 is mounted. The pin 64 is 1 3 secured on each side to a bracket 66 riveted to the squeeze plate 68.

An ear 70, extending at each side thereof to the rear of the squeeze plate 68, is pivotally secured by means of the rivet or pin 72 to a link 74.

Each link 74 is pivoted to the block 56 as by the rivet 76.

Movement of the collar 30'downward on the stick or handle 60, forces the squeeze plate 68 against the swab 80 to wring the fluid from it and dry it.

The block 56 is provided with the recess 82 to accommodate the upper edge 84 of the plate 68, which is preferably turned toward the front of the mop, the lower edge 86, in the modification being described, being preferably turned to the rear of the mop.

Movement of the collar 30 upward on the stick or handle 60 will pull the squeeze plate 68 away from the swab 80 to thereby relieve it from the wringing pressure or force.

The upper surface of the frame 88 extends preferably to the rear of the mop to form the downwardly turned edge 90 cooperative with the frontwardly turned upper edge 84 of the plate 68 to allow said upper edge to slide thereunder for guidance and to minimize looseness of the wringing mechanism when in Withdrawn position.

It will now be recognized that I have provided a simple and inexpensive means which will squeeze relatively dry the swab of a mop without requiring the mopstick or handle to be changed from its usual mopping position.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not intend to be restricted to the precise details thereof as the scope of the invention is best defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a mop, a frame, a swab carried by the frame adjacent to the underside thereof, a handle attached to the frame, a squeeze plate, a means slidably mounted upon said handle and reciprocable with respect thereto between a first and second position, a lobe extending to the rear on each side of the squeeze plate and having openings therein, a member across the rear of the plate and rotatably passing through the openings and having a finger pivoted to the frame at each side thereof and a v lever connecting said means to said member whereby upon reciprocation of the means from said first position to said second position the squeeze plate is forced against the swab and upon reciprocating said means from said second position to said first position the squeeze plate position, a lever secured at one end to the collar, a lug at each side of the squeeze plate and having an opening therein, a member extending across the squeeze plate'to the rear thereof between the lugs and rotatably passing through the openings therein, a finger continuing from the member passing through each opening in a lug and each finger pivoted to the frame, a yoke on the member intermediate the lugs and an eye at the other end of the lever, said yoke passing through said eye, whereby upon reciprocation of the collar from said first position to said second position the squeeze plate is forced against the swab and upon reciprocating said collar from said second position to said first position the squeeze plate is moved away from the said swab.

4. The mop of claim 3, the upper edge of said squeeze plate being turned toward the rear of the mop away from the frame and the lower edge of said squeeze plate being turned toward the front of the mop toward the frame.

5. A mop comprising a frame, a swab carried by said frame adjacent the underside thereof, a handle on said frame extending upwardly therefrom, a squeeze plate along one side of said swab, a member mounting said squeeze plate for swinging movement toward said swab to a position below said framev for compressing said swab between said squeeze plate and said frame, and hand actuable means reciprocably slidable on and with respect to said handle and operatively connected to said member for effecting the swinging movement of said squeeze plate upon shifting movement of said hand aetuable means, said member comprising an elongated central portion pivotally connected to said squeeze plate and transversely extending fingers on opposite ends of said central portion and pivoted to said frame, said hand actuable means comprising a collar slidable on said handle, and an arm on said collar and rotatably receiving the central portion of said member for effecting pivotal movement of said member with respect to said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent. UNITED STATES PATENTS 603,999 Ballam May 10, 1898 1,551,668 Johnson Sept. 1, 1925 1,912,543 Sendler June 6, 1933 2,028,025 Smith Jan.'14, 1936 1 2,133,148 Paul 2. Oct. 11, 1938 2,153,601 Vaughn Apr. 11, 1939 2,251,384 Thomas Aug. 5, 1941 2,418,802 Bendar Apr. 8, 1947 2,515,403 Greenleaf et al. July 18, 1950 2,518,765 Ecker Aug. 15, 1950 2,596,026 Howells et al May 6, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 41,845 Sweden Oct. 7, 1912 411,314 Great Britain June 7, 1934 611,571 Germany Mar. 30, 1935 db-r... 

